Sorry accidentally put this in the sticky at first! my red steering light has been coming on.

the battery needed charging last week as the car wouldn't start on Monday last week so I hooked up my optimate (didn't need to disconnect the battery with my current set up) and left on to trickle charge all week - NO LIGHT Before this stage. Took for a 20min drive on Sunday no lights on the dash but I got to the last turning back to my house and boom the red light appears but nothing seems wrong with the car. The light went out if I turn my car off for approx 15/20mins. Same light appeared yesterday too after about 1min of driving on the way to work and after 5mins on the way home!

Here's the odd thing, it didn't do it this morning.
Just to add the steering has felt fine during all of this even when the light was on.

Maybe I'm clutching straws but I know drops in voltage can sometimes set it off. I was wondering can it also be set off by an upper limit in voltage (not sure if that's even possible)?

As it coincidently happened after charging my battery I'm suspect it's possibly related to that, or maybe it's pure coincidence, Has anyone had a similar issue after charging up there battery?

I should also add that the Power steering unit had been replaced by fiat approx 5years ago with a brand new part, since then it's only done 15k miles tops since.

mahol - i had the exact same issue a week or 2 myself

left the stereo on and subwoofer = Flat battery

Left the car charging on a variable rate charger (starts off fast and slows down 6amp to 200ma at times)

Car started no issues and was fine for a few corners

And same - Boof - light on, no problems on steering though

A few drive cycles and it happens after a few turns

Then a few days after that - peach No light again

So i suspect the P/S doesn't like recharged batteries - probably static charge messing it up or something

Ziggy

Colder weather guys, sorts the men from the boys in the battery world, The battery needs to be in top condition, also the alternator. get a multimeter and check battery voltage with everything OFF, then try again with the engine running, should be getting around 13.5+/- volts then.

Ziggy122 - that reassuring that you've been in the same boat, I'll keep an eye on it. Fingers crossed it stays trouble free!
digger58 - Cheers, the battery isn't that old but I don't drive it that much and generally only make short journeys. Hopefully now it's charged if I make a point of running it more... Fingers crossed it will be fine

At least your light goes off.


Mine is permanently on, with no PS issues.


Been on a fault reader, been on a multi meter, battery charged, PS unit changed...... few other bits and pieces as well!